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This impressive basin and matching ewer are of a scale and quality that suggest that they were primarily for display and occasional use in ceremonies, rather than for daily use.
The alternating sea monsters and bunches of fruit appear on a number of English vessels made around 1600. The presence of sea monsters on many of these types of vessels is appropriate, given that they traditionally held water. Some elements of the design of this pair, such as the fanciful masks, may draw inspiration from Italian and German prints or maps of the period. However, they have been combined here with distinctly English design elements, such as the strapwork resembling flat strips of leather and the decorative scrolls.
The applied boss at the center of the basin featuring a coat of arms beneath an earl’s coronet, made with a process that uses small punches to create lines resembling pin pricks, is likely a later replacement.
Basin
English (London)
1604–05
Object Place: Europe, London, England
Medium/Technique
Metal; Gilded silver
Dimensions
Diam x H: 57.5 x 6 cm (22 5/8 x 2 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
Theodora Wilbour Fund in memory of Charlotte Beebe Wilbour
Accession Number47.1428
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsSilver
This impressive basin and matching ewer are of a scale and quality that suggest that they were primarily for display and occasional use in ceremonies, rather than for daily use.
The alternating sea monsters and bunches of fruit appear on a number of English vessels made around 1600. The presence of sea monsters on many of these types of vessels is appropriate, given that they traditionally held water. Some elements of the design of this pair, such as the fanciful masks, may draw inspiration from Italian and German prints or maps of the period. However, they have been combined here with distinctly English design elements, such as the strapwork resembling flat strips of leather and the decorative scrolls.
The applied boss at the center of the basin featuring a coat of arms beneath an earl’s coronet, made with a process that uses small punches to create lines resembling pin pricks, is likely a later replacement.
DescriptionA set with 47.1427. The round basin has a boss at the center pounced with a coat of arms. Surrounding the boss, three flat-chased oval strapwork panels enclose figures of sea monsters against a wavy ground interspersed with clusters of fruit against a matted ground. The central well of the basin is filled with three similar ovals enclosing sea monsters alternating with circular panels enclosing embossed masks. The interstices are filled with clusters of fruit, griffins, winged sphinxes, and winged horses against a matted ground. The rim of the dish has foliate strapwork broken by oval panels enclosing embossed sea monsters and heads of putti. A long patch has been added to the underside of the rim at the top of the basin. The basin is raised with flat-chased, embossed, die-struck, and matted decoration. The chasing and matting in the curved section of the basin appear to have been reinforced. The applied boss at the center is composed of cast, die-struck, and drawn moldings. The central disk is a replacement. A large patch is applied to the underside of the rim and the gilding has been renewed. The foot of the ewer is assembled from three molded, embossed, and die-struck pieces. The spool-shaped section of the stem is formed of two raised pieces. The body of the vessel is raised with embossed, flat-chased, and matted decoration. The neck, joined to the body with a molded and die-struck collar, is also raised, chased, and matted. The handle and applied masks are cast. The gilding has been renewed and is flaking in large areas near the stem.
ProvenanceJ. Pierpont Morgan (b. 1837 - d. 1913), New York; October 30- November 1, 1947, Morgan estate sale, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, lot 468, sold to the MFA for $10,000 [see note 1]. (Accession Date: November 13, 1947)
NOTES:
[1] MFA accession numbers 47.1427 - 47.1428 (ewer and basin) were acquired together in this lot.
NOTES:
[1] MFA accession numbers 47.1427 - 47.1428 (ewer and basin) were acquired together in this lot.